Indian show theft: CIA arrests suspect, retrieves stolen set

Kamal Kant, in his application, said the set was worth Rs700,000.

LAHORE:

Police claimed on Tuesday to have arrested a man who is believed to have stolen a diamond set from a jewellery stall at the India Show, held at the Expo Centre.

The announcement was made at a press conference by the new CIA chief Captain Liaqat Ali Malik at Qila Gujjar Singh. The suspect was identified as Shakil Jutt, a resident of Sheikhupura.

Jutt told reporters that he had not gone to the exhibition with a plan to steal anything. “I saw a jewellery stall without proper surveillance and stole the diamond set,” he said.

“The incident was a serious challenge,” said Malik.

Malik said that the CIA had identified the suspect within 24 hours of the incident but took their time because “we did not want to arrest him only to find out that the set had been sold off”.

Police said that they used their “network”, to purchase the stolen set from Shakil. They did not say how much they paid.

Kamal Kant Kulathia of Kolkata had registered an FIR, on February 12, at Nawab Town police station against an unidentified man for stealing a diamond and gold set from his stall. Kulathia said in his application that the suspect “appeared to be between 24 and 27 years old”. He said that he and his nephew tried to chase after the suspect but he got away. He then asked security to be allowed access to the CCTV footage, which they did. However, his stall was out of the nearest camera’s view. He said the set was worth Rs700,000.

CIA said that Jutt had a criminal record. Jutt, however, said that he had been accused of a murder but was acquitted because of lack of evidence. He admitted to stealing the diamond set. “God, our network and the relentless efforts [of the team] made the arrest possible,” said CIA chief Captain Liaqat Ali Malik. “The Indians were our guests,” he said, adding, “We wanted to return what was theirs.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2012.